Books with author Michael Basman

On a Friday afternoon in early spring, Glory Eleanor Loomis, 13, of Sackatucket, Long Island makes a shocking discovery in a second-hand bookstore. She finds a novel called Invasion Earth! set in Roswell, New Mexico (her parents’ birthplace) containing a picture of her brother Michael, captioned “George Edward Livermore,” and another of her space-suited mother and father, identified as George’s parents. Glory is further shaken when the main character’s life reads like a horror story version of her own and her mother re-enacts a nerve-wracking scene from the book that Glory has just read. But things take an even weirder and more worrisome turn when she’s suddenly beset by a flurry of eerie flu-like symptoms, collapses onto her bedroom floor, and awakens twelve hours later, bewildered and terrified, in a hospital bathroom. Unaware that she is caught in the grip of biological forces that no one sees or understands, she begins to change in secret, subtle and stupefying ways, till her transformation is complete—and her unprecedented journey has begun. Joining Glory in her twenty-first century coming-of-age story are her parents, Joe and Maryann; best friends, Francine Kim and Tiffany Lopez; math teacher Naomi Feldman; bookstore proprietor Milo Barnes; ruthless corporate agents and hirelings; modern-day renaissance genius Omar Merryman; struggling newspaper reporter Walter Paulson; and the best-looking Metasapiens Glory will ever meet.

Milton used to live in a big city. After he moved to the country he would have stomach aches on a regular basis.This is a story about how Milton learned to overcome his tummy aches by overcoming his fears and changing his thinking. This book was written to be thought provoking, but fun; especially for children between the ages of 10-14. The book was also designed to build self-confidence and self-esteem by seamlessly teaching children to confront their own fears and using their imagination to build upon reoccuring successes.

Rhodesia, a country in southern Africa, was a fairly prosperous British colony until the mid-1960s; however, the black African majority of Rhodesia was ruled by a handful of white leaders. The country fought Great Britain in a 15-year war for independence, which it ultimately achieved in 1980. Zimbabwe, as the new country became known, saw its prosperity decline dramatically under Robert Mugabe, its first ruler. He seized total control over the country and persecuted his political enemies. In recent years, Mugabe's policies—such as military involvement in the Congolese civil war and a land redistribution program—as well as government corruption have devastated the country economically. Although Mugabe's agreed to a power-sharing arrangement in 2009, many political issues remain unresolved. As a result, the future of Zimbabwe is uncertain.

Michael Ball is more than a Laurence Olivier Award winner and multi-platinum recording artist; he holds the unique status of being Britain's foremost musical theater actor. Testimony to his success is the huge cult following he has built. . . not least among theater audiences. From his debut in London's West End, with a superb performance in the original 1985 cast of Les Miserables, to unqualified acclaim in Aspects Of Love, Passion, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and more recently in Hairspray and Sweeney Todd. Michael's silky smooth voice and boyish charms have seduced audiences everywhere, a popularity that has led to more than 15 sought-after solo albums and the hit single "Love Changes Everything." Television and radio have not been slow in courting his talents, from his first flirtation with the small screen and a rather embarrassing appearance in the ITV soap Coronation Street to hosting his own successful chat shows. He even represented Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992. Andrew Lloyd Webber, understated as ever, joked: "He's a top man at what he does—and he has a rather nice taste in Savile Row suits." But there is so much more to Michael than curly-haired smiles and smartly-dressed dulcet tones. In this first ever biography of the star, author Willie Robertson provides a comprehensive and compelling insight into the legend that is Michael Ball. A must read for any fan!

Sixth-grader Simon Bloom can't believe his luck when he finds a book that enables him to control the laws of physics. By simply reciting the formulas it contains, he can cancel gravity to fly around his bedroom, or decrease friction so he can slide down the street as if he were on Rollerblades. When two thugs with evil intentions come after Simon, he must use the formulas to save himself and the book from falling into their hands. This funny, fast, and imaginative novel from first-time author Michael Reisman will appeal to fans of both fantasy and action-adventure.

Sixth-grader Simon Bloom can’t believe his luck when he finds a book that enables him to control the laws of physics. By simply reciting the formulas it contains, he can cancel gravity to fly around his bedroom, or decrease friction so he can slide down the street as if he were on Rollerblades. When two thugs with evil intentions come after Simon, he must use the formulas to save himself and the book from falling into their hands. This funny, fast, and imaginative novel from first-time author Michael Reisman will appeal to fans of both fantasy and action adventure.

At first, you won’t like Fremont Rosenbloom. What he does for a living is rather detestable. Let’s say you have an ex-husband getting remarried, or perhaps your slave driver boss' son’s birthday is coming up. If you want the occasion to be remembered, you call Fremont. Ruining special occasions is his specialty, in fact you could say it is his art. But please withhold judgment. Fremont has a story. You see, Fremont’s dad abandoned him. He left in the dead of night, not to be seen again. As a parting gift, Fremont’s father left him a motivational voice mail on their answering machine, reassuring Fremont it wasn’t his fault he was being left behind. He also left him the deed to their small house, and enough money to make it to his eighteenth birthday. Fremont’s father asked him to consider it a ‘great adventure’. As you might imagine, Fremont started to spiral. He latched onto his crusty next door neighbor Modesto, a gambling addict with a pension for the black jack tables. Modesto wasn’t much, but he was the closest thing to a grandfather Fremont could muster. He became family. With Modesto’s help, Fremont’s money soon evaporated. Bills became due, and his adopted grandfather Modesto, was going to lose his house. Fremont couldn’t bear the thought of losing someone again. Fremont stepped up. After school he began working at the local pizza shop, but it wasn’t enough. No one was willing to pay a sixteen year old what he needed to keep Modesto and himself afloat. It was at around the same time, he discovered he had a knack, and flair for elaborate schemes. He saw a business opportunity, and he jumped at it. He became a ‘party assassin’ for hire. But as you can imagine, this brought on a whole new set of problems. Fans of the Michael Vey series by Richard Paul Evans and the Maze Runner series by James Dashner will surely enjoy Fremont's adventures.

In Simon Bloom, The Gravity Keeper, Simon Bloom and his friends used the Book of Physics to narrowly defeat villainess Sirabetta. Now Simon’s nemesis, stuck as a helpless thirteen-year-old, wants revenge. In this exciting sequel, Simon and company must enter the mysterious undersea realm of the Order of Biology to fi nd Sirabetta before she can restore her powers. Aided by old allies and some new ones, the kids struggle with fi erce beasts, dangerous enemies, and their own evolving abilities. Blending humor, suspense, and science—and throwing new octopus powers into the mix—Michael Reisman brings us another outstandingly original adventure.

International master Mike Basman shows that everyone can learn to play chess in this easy-to-follow beginner's guide. He introduces the chess pieces and the moves before passing on top tactics and expert tips, from castling and capturing to checkmates and endgames. The book is illustrated with chess diagrams and lively cartoons by Tim Benton. A reference section at the end provides useful addresses, booklists and websites, plus a glossary and index.